The life of
an aspiring redhead is one marked by periods of both intense frustration and extreme joy. Finding a
color that a) is flattering and b) lasts longer on your head than on the grout in
your shower often feels like an exercise in futility.

But then one
day you stumble upon that elusive formula, and it’s as magical as biting into
a cupcake with the perfect cake-to-frosting ratio. People stop you on the
street just to compliment your color, and deep down, you know you are the baddest
bitch.

Alas, though
I’ve experienced many ah-ha hair moments, I am never satisfied. Most
recently, after watching way too many episodes of Total Divas (don’t judge, k
thanks), I became obsessed with the idea of an Eva Marie-inspired true red. And
because E! has been running a ton of commercials for Vidal Sassoon’s new London
Luxe hair color collection, “Runway Red” inevitably made its way into my Target
shopping bag last week.

1. Before you get started, be sure to rub a thin
layer of petroleum jelly around your hair line to prevent any dye from staining
your skin. This stuff is particularly messy.

2. Fully saturate your roots with dye and then move
down through the shafts and ends. Be warned: if your hair is longer than
shoulder-length, you will need two boxes for sure. I learned the hard way.

3. Once all the dye is applied, I like to work a wide tooth comb gently through my hair to ensure all the strands are thoroughly covered.

4. Secure your hair on the top of your head and stay away from your nice furniture.
Maybe watch an episode of Total Divas to pass the time.

5. Leave in for 30 minutes. It will start to burn a
little--my eyes actually began to tear up like I was dicing an onion or
reading a John Irving novel. I convinced myself that it meant the chemicals
were working extra hard to give me runway-worthy hair.

6. Rinse well with lukewarm water. However, do feel free to
scrub your scalp with a little shampoo and rinse again to lessen the staining.

7. Apply the conditioner from root to tip and leave
in for two minutes. If you haven’t shaved your legs in a while, now is a great
time to do it.

8. Rinse once more and you’re all set.

The Big Reveal

While the results
are definitely nothing to complain about, my hair didn’t quite reach the Little Mermaid/WWE Diva heights I was hoping for. This color would be great for
anyone wanting a rich red that could arguably be found somewhere in nature.
Maybe not on a human, but, you know, close enough.

Natural
isn’t really my thing, though, so I’ll likely be saying adios to this color
next month and continuing my search for an ultra-vibrant red.